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CA legislators to EPA: Ban methyl iodide - please!

More than 35 California legislators, including Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez, submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency urging policymakers to “suspend and cancel all uses of iodomethane (methyl iodide) in the United States…” on April 4, 2011.

The fumigant pesticide, ushered in against scientific opinion during the final weeks of the Schwarzenegger administration, is destined for California strawberry fields as early as this spring. Methyl iodide causes cancer, is a thyroid toxicant and has been called “one of the most toxic chemicals on earth” by Dr. John Froines, the lead scientific reviewer for the state.

The legislators stated their recommendation in no uncertain terms, citing scientific evidence for methyl iodide as a carcinogen, neurotoxin, and mutagen, and potential for groundwater contamination:

As members of the California Legislature, we strongly urge a decision by US EPA to reopen the scientific evaluation process for the registration of methyl iodide. In light of further scientific data accumulated and reported by the Scientific Review Committee…, we are requesting US EPA to suspend and cancel all uses of iodomethane (methyl iodide) in the United States, pending review of the scientific evidence.

Take Action » We have until April 29th to urge EPA to ban methyl iodide nationally. If you haven't yet, please sign this petition and forward it to a friend. We want to deliver 200k signatures to policymakers in Washington, DC.